Can handling apparatus



Nov. 30, 1943. A. R. THOMPSON CAN HANDLING'APPARATUS Filed Ap'ril e, 1940 5 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 30, 1943. u A RYTHOMPSON l 2,335,618 A GAN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 6, 194@ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE y" A. R. THOMPSON CAN HANDLING'A APPARATUS Nov. 30, 1943.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 6, 1940 nooooooooo ooooooocooo ooouooooooo oooooooooo ooo.oooouoaoaeoooo iNvENToR y ALBERT l?. 7/10MP50/v ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1943. A. R. vTHOMPSON GAN`HANDLING APPARATUS S sheets-sheet 4 Filed April 6, 1940 Patented Not. 30, 1943 CAN HANDLING APPARATUS Albert R. Thompson, Los Gatos, Calif., assigner to Food Machinery Corporation,` San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware I v Application April 6, 1940, Serial No. 328,326V

3 Claims.

The present invention appertains to apparatus for treating canned goods by application of a treating medium exterior of the same.

More specifically, the `present invention relates to a transverseroll cooker for sterilizing canned vmeans for controlling the treating period of the canned products and the agitation thereof during the treating process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooking apparatus which comprises a treating compartment which may be preferably divided into a cooking and a cooling section and wherein al1 operating mechanism for controlling the treating period vand agitation of the canned goods is arranged exterior oi such treating compartment and 4not subjected to the corrosive effects of the treating medium employed in connection therewith.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transverse roll cooker adapted. for the treatment of cans of various Vsize Without subjecting the cans to shocks which would causev damage to thecontents thereof. 1

A further object of the present invention is to provide a canned goods cooker of simple, eili-v cient, andinexpensive construction which is economical in operation and maintenance.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 constitute a side view of the transverse roll cooker of the present invention, Fig. 2 being a continuation of Fig. 1.

Fig.` 3 illustrates a front viewof the transverse roll cooker looking in the Adirection of line 3,--3 in Fig. l.

Fig. '4 is arv plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. l.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a longitudinal section through the entire machine of the present invention, Fig. 6 representing the continuation ot Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of Fig. 5, the view being taken along line l-'l of Fig. 5.

Fig.- 8 is .a horizontal sectional view` taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal section of the feed conveyor `of the present invention, the view being taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 4.

Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the mode Vof operation of the y. can

advancing mechanism. l

The apparatus of the present invention conv sists generally of a treating compartment I Y wherein the cans are subjected to the action of a treating medium; a can supporting mechanism .2 for supporting the cans and for agitating the contents thereof during thetreating period; a can shifting mechanism 3 for advancingv the cans through the treating compartment; and a feed-elevator 4 and transverse conveyor 5 for supplying the cans tothe treating compartment of the machine. f

Referring iirst to the treating compartment l of the apparatus of the. present invention and primarily to Figs. l, 2, 5. and 6, it will be noted that the same consists ofthe side walls l and 8, a top wall 9, a bottom wall Ii, and end walls l2 and I3. The treating compartment is supported by frame members IB to 20 inclusive in lany convenient manner. The end walls I2 and i3 extend at right angles to the bottom wall Il and par-y tially close the treating compartment I so as to permit the installation ofthe transverse con-y veyor 5, ytoprovide suiiicient space for the discharge of the cans ,from the machine at the discharge end 2| thereof, and to provide sufiicient clearance for ,the can advancing mechanism 3 previously referred to. A y

The treating compartment l of the apparatus of the presentJ invention may be preferably provided with a central partition 25 and a flexible partition 26 for dividing the same into a cooking section 2l and a cooling section 28. 4The bottom Wall l i may be preferably inclined at por.-v

tions Within the cooking and cooling sections to form trough portions 29 and 30 for collecting the treating medium of l each section separately, so that the same may be used again in the continuous operation of the machine.

If desired, however, the central partition 2.5.

and the iiexible partition 26 may be omitted and the entire treating compartment l may be utilized eitherior-cooking or cooling purposes of the canned goods, as will be'apparent to those versed in the art. Y f l Mounted Within the treating compartment I intermediate the bottom and top wallsthereoi are a plurality of parallel closely spaced, smooth surfaced rolls 33 extendingy transversely vof .the

machine. These rolls form a horizontal treating bed which extends longitudinally of the machine for supporting the cans to be treated.

In accordance with the teachings of theA present invention, the cans are advanced from the feed end toward the discharge end of the machine transversely across the rolls above referred to. The rolls 33 are of comparatively small diameter with respect to the can size and, depend ing upon the size of the cans to be handled, the same may be either positioned in alternate or successive valleys formed between the transverse rolls.

As previously mentioned, the rolls 33 extend transversely of the treating compartment of the machine and may be of considerable length so as to accommodate a row of cans (preferably about 10 cans) in each valley therebetween.

The end portions 34 of successive rolls 33 are mounted within bearings 35 of the side walls 1 and 3, respectively. while the other ends 33 of successive rolls 33 extend through bearings 33 of the side Walls 1 and 3, respectively.

Mounted upon the ends 33 of the rolls 33 are sprocket wheels 43 which are fixed to the rolls for rotation therewith by means of pins 4|. Retaining washers 45 secured to the rolls 33 aulacent the side walls 1 and 3, respectively, and cooperating With the bearings 33 are provided to prevent transverse movement of the rolls 33 and to hold them securely in place within the bearings 35 and 39. The sprocket wheels 43,01' ad- `iacent transverse rolls are arranged exterior of the treating compartment and on opposite sides thereof, so that suilicient space for mounting of the sprocket wheels 43 of the rolls is provided on one or the other side of the machine, and the same will not interfere with each other, as will be clearly seen from Figs. 1, 2, and 8. Trained around the sprocket wheels 43, drive sprockets 43, and a plurality of idler sprockets 43 and 43, are endless sprocket chains 33 and 5|. Each of the idler sprockets 48 at opposite sides o! the treating `compartment I is adjustably mounted on the side walls 1 and 3, respectively, by means of a bracket 52, slot 53, and cap screw 54. These idler sprockets 43 may be adju .ted in such a manner as to take up any slack in the sprocket chains 53 and 5| or to release the tension thereof to permit removal of the drive sprockets 43.

The drive sprockets 43 are removably mounted on stud shafts-53 rotatably positioned withinsocket bearings 59. If it is desired to obtain a different speed of travel of the endless chains 53 and 5|, the sprocket wheels 43 may be replaced by larger or smaller drive sprockets.

The shafts 53 and sprockets 43 are driven by an electric motor 6| positioned upon the top wall of the treating compartment. The motor 3| is operatively connected through a gear reduction mechanism 62, belts 63, pulleys 64, 35 to agear 66 which is in engagement with a gear 31 fixed to a shaft 68y supported within bearings 53 and 13 upon the top wall 3 of the machine. Keyed to the shaft 63 are drive pinions 15 and 13 which cooperate with cam gears 11 and 13, respectively. The cam gears 11 and 13 are rotatably mounted by means of a shaft 13 within the upper portion of the frame I6 and cooperate with intermediate gears 33 and 3|, respectively, mounted upon the endless chains 53 and 5| will travel in the direction of the arrow 32 in Figs. 1 and 2. The sprockets 43 will therefore be rotated, causing a corresponding rotation of the rollers 33 in the direction of the arrows as shown in Fig. 5.

The cans positioned within the valleys between adjacent pairs of transverse rolls will be rotated in the direction of the arrows 33, as shown in Fig. 5, and the contents thereof will be agitated to increase the heat transmission throughout the same. Obviously, by varying the speed of rota tion of the drive sprockets 43 bymeans of the gear reduction mechanism 62, the speed of rotation of the cans may be varied. and likewise. by replacing the drive sprockets 43 with sprockets of a smaller or larger size, diil'erent speeds of rotation of the transverse rolls and conse-- quently a variation of the agitation of the contents of the cans may be obtained.

Mounted upon the top wall of the treating compartment I are transversely extending conduits 93 and 9| provided with a perforated partition 32 and discharge openings 33 and 34. The

, top wall 3 adjacent the discharge openings 33 stud shafts 53 to which the drive sprockets 43 and 34 of the transverse conduits 33 and 3| comprises inlet openings 33 and 31 and deflecting chutes 33 and 39. The outlet openings 93 and 34 and inlet openings 93 and 31 establish communication; between the transverse conduits 33 and 3| and treating medium distributing compartments |33 and |3| respectively.

The treating medium distributing compartments |33 and |3| are arranged within the upper portion of the treating compartment and are formed by a corrugated sheet metal partition |32 which extends longitudinally and transversely of the treating compartment to which it is. secured at the side walls 1 and 3 thereof. The partition |32 is provided with end portions |33 and |34 and a central partition |35, which extend upwardly toward the top wail 9 to which they are secured in any convenient manner. The corrugated partition |32 is perforated over its entire length, as shown at |33, for discharging the treating' medium from the compartments- |33 suction pipes ||2 extend into the cooking and.

cooling compartments 21 and 23, respectively, for returning the treating medium collecting therein to the treating medium distributing compartments |33 and |3| for re-use.

The inlet conduits ||2 of the pumps |33 and ||3 may be further connected to supply conduits ||3 and 4, respectively, which lead to different sources of treating medium supply. Preferably, the supply pipe H3 may be connected to a hot water supply tank while the supply pipev ||4 may be preferably connected with a source of cold water supply. Valves may be provided in conjunction with the conduits ||3, and I|4 for regulating the admission of the treating medium.

From the above it will therefore-he seen that treating medium discharged by the pumps |39 and ||3 into the transverse conduits 33 and 9| is directed into the treating medium distributing compartments |33 and |3| in a manner as indicated by arrows in Figs. 5 and 6. The treating medium is ldistributed over the entire area of the partition |32 and discharged therefrom through the perforations |06 by gravity fall upon the canned goods passing ythrough the treating compartment l.

As already previously mentioned,V the entire treating compartment I may be utilized for cooking Apurposes and in such case cooking medium may be supplied to the treating medium compartments and |0I. In such instance, the apparatus of the present invention will function as a cooker and the canned goods are discharged from the same after sterilization thereof and transferred to a separate cooling apparatus of similar construction positioned adjacent the cooking apparatus. Likewise, if it is desired to utilize the apparatusof the present invention for cooling purposes, it is only necessary to supply a cooling medium to the distributing com partments |00 and |0|. lFrom the above it will therefore be obvious that the apparatus of the present invention is adaptable for cooking and cooling treatment of canned goods in any desired manner, as outlined above, and as will be apu parent to those versed in the art.

Mounted above the transverse rolls 33 vwithin the treating compartment I are a plurality of transversely extendingpusher bars |20, These pusher bars are supported by pusher bar supporting members |2| and |22 extending longitudinally of the treating compartment above the transverse rollers 33 and adjacent the side walls 1 and 8. These supporting members are suspended within the treating compartment I by the pusher bar actuating mechanism, which willbe'described hereinafter, in spaced relationship with .respect to the transverse rolls 33 and in such a manner that during actuation of these supporting'members |2| and |22 the same will not contact the transverse rolls 33. The transverse pusher bars are likewise spaced from the transverse rolls 33 and are positioned in such a manner relative to the same that during their operationthey willeiect `a shifting of the cans through the treating' compartment from the feeding endto; the discharge end thereof. The

spacing ofthe pusher bars |20 with respect to each other is such as to accommodate certain sizes. of cans for which the machine is designed.

'The stroke of the pusher'bar actuating mecha- 'nism determines thearnount of forward shift of 'the cans'.

The `pusherA |2|yand |122 are suspended' within the treating Acompartment I by means of bell crank leversV |23 and |24 on the 'front`s'ide of the machine', as will ed 2.` The beu 5"y andi'i 26 Sup?- ported "Withinbearings *|21 'afn'cl |28 respectively,

positioned exterior yof the treating compartment I and attached to the lowersurface of the top wall S, which extends slightly beyond the side wall'1. Each of the bell crank levers |23 and |20 "|35 and ist in the side wams i and a of the treating compartment. The transverse shafts |33 and` |34 extend through bushings |31 of the supporting members |2| and |22, as willbe clearly seen from Fig.'3.

Pivotally mounted on the transverse shafts |25 'and |26 at the rear side of the machine are links '|38 and |33 pivotally connected at |40 'to links |4| and |42, which are in turn pivotally secured to the transverse shafts |33 and |34, respectively.

The bell crank levers |23 and 4|24 are pivotally interconnected by means of pivot pins |45 and |46 to an actuating rod |41 so that operation of the bell crankv lever |23 is transferred to the bell crank lever |24. The bell crank lever |23 is further pivotally connected by means of the pivot` pin |45 to an actuating rod |48 pivoted to an actuating arm |49 by means of a pivot pin |50. The

an actuating rod |55 which is pivotally connectedl to the transverse shaft |33 at one end thereof while the other end of the actuating rod |55 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin |56 to an actuating arm |51. This arm |51 is'pivotally rsuspended on the frame I6 of the machine by means of a pivot pin |58 and bearing |59. The actuating arm |51 carries a roller |63 engaging a camway |64 of the camgear 18. The'cams |54 and |64 are of a configuration as shown in Figs.

bars |20 and supporting members vqta'llv meente@ l'verse shafts |33 and |34.

1 and 5 and are so positioned with respect to each other that upon rotation of the gears- 11 and 18 an alternate operation of the actuating rods |48 and |55 isobtained. The actuatin of the beu crank levers |23 and |24Aby means of'the actuatingfrods |41 and |48 during rotation'of the cam l|54 and oscillation of the actuating arm |49 causes raising and lowering of the supporting members `|2I, |22, and pusher bars |20,vwhile the operation of the link mechanism |38', |44, the actuating rod |55,actuating arm |51, and cam |64 effect a forward and backward movement of the supporting members |2|, |22 and pusher bars |20.

The openings |35 and |36 in the side walls 1 and 8 of the machine areA of a configuration corresponding to the path of movement ofthe transjThe camway |54 of the radially extending portions" |63' and |69 and circular portions |10 and |1 I, and camway |64 which is similar to camway' 54 comprises like- Wise radially extending portions V|12 and |13 and circular cam portions I 14 and |15.

When the can advancing'mechanism is in a position as shown in Figs. l1 and A5 the transverse shafts' |33, |34, pusher bars |20, and supporting members|2| and |22 i are in their lowerrnost position, as shown Fig. 10, and rotation f the cam 'gear 18 by means "of the motor 62 in adirection of the arrow asshown in Fig. 1 will cause travel of the circular camway portion- |10 along the roller |53 without effecting the movement of the actuating arm |40. The bell crank levers- |23 and t |24 will therefore remain in a position as shown in Figs. l and 2 during the travel of the roller |53 along the circularcam portion |10.

VUpon operation of the cam gear 11, cam gear 18 is rotated simultaneously therewith,r and the rotation of this cam gear 10 inthe direction of the arrow as shown in Fig. 5 will effect the travel of the radial camway portion |13 with respect to 'the roller i133 of the ,actuating arm |51'. The arm cam gear 11 comprises The links |4| and |42 pivot during such movement on pivot pins |40 and a forward shifting of the cans I 8| supported upon the transverse rollers 33 will be eifected. The cans |8| which are positioned with their longitudinal axes parallel to the axis of the transverse rollers 33 are thereby advanced from the valley |82 to the valley .|83 between adjacent pairs of rollers 33, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 11. In other words, the cans |8|, as will be clearly seen from Fig. 11, are advanced over two valleys, formed by adjacent pairs of rollers 33, during the forward movement of the transverse shafts |33 and |34. When this forward movement is completed the links |38, |38 and 4|, |42 are in the position las shown in Fig. 11, and the roller |83 enters the circular camway portion |14. While the circular camway portion |14 passes the roller |83 no further forward movement of the transverseUshaftsv |33 and |34 is effected. However, during the continuing rotation of the cam gear 11, the radial camway portion |88 travels past the roller |53 and effects a backward movement of the actuating arm |48 in the direction of the arrow |84, as clearly seenfin Fig. 1. The actuating rods |41 and |48 perform a similar backward movement, and bell crank levers |23 and |24 will pivot aroundtheir pivot pins |25 and |28,- effecting a raising of the transverse shafts |33 and |34, pusher bars |20 andsupporting members |2| and |22 to'a position as shown in Fig. 12. The transverse pusher bars |20 are thereby raised above the cans |8| positioned upon the treating bed of the machine and are thereby moved out of contact with the same. When the transverse shafts |33 and |34 reach their uppermost position the circular camway portion |1| passes th roller |53, and while the roller |53 travels along the portion I1 the actuating arm |48 remains stationary, holding the transverse shafts |33 and |34 and the pusher bars |20 in their raised positions.

During the travel of -the circular camway portion |1| past the roller |53, the radial camway portion i12 of the cam gear 18 passes roller |83 and effects the return of the actuating arm |51 to the position as shown in Fig. 5, while the transverse shafts |33 and |34 and the pusher bars |20 remain in their uppermost position. The transverse shafts ,|33 and |34 are thereby pulled backward in the direction of the arrow |85 (see Fig. 13) and upon the end of said backward movement the shafts |33 and |34 will have assumed a position as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 13.

During the continued rotation of the cam gears 11 and 18 the actuating arm |51 remains now in itsposition as shown in Fig. while the circular camway portion |15 travels past roller |83. At the same time the camway portion |88 of the cam gear 11 travels past roller |53 and effects a forward movement of the actuating arm |48 to the position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The bell crank levers |23 and |24 are thereby rocked around their pivot pins |25 and |28 to their original positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the transverse shafts |33 and |34, as well as the pusher members and supporting members |2| and |22 are lowered tu their original position as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 10. The pusher members |20 enter again into the spaces between the cans |8| and are now in a position to engage the cans |8| and to cause further advancement thereof during the next cycle of operation, which is repeated in the same manner as described above.

In this way the cans |8| are advanced from the feed end toward the discharge end ofthe machine and are discharged therefrom by means of a discharge chute |88 upon a transverse conveyor |81 or any other conveyor structure.

While the cans travel through the treating compartment in a manner hereinbefore described, they are continuously rotated around their longitudinal axes so as to cause agitation of the contents thereof and to effect an even treatment of the'complete contents of the cans. In this way, the cans pass first through the cooking section 21 wherein a heating medium is discharged by gravity fall upon the same for the heating medium distributing section |00 through the perforations |08, andthe contents of the cans are sterilized and cooked. Thereupon the cans travel through the cooling section 28 wherein they are subjected to the action of the cooling medium discharged through the perforations |08 of the cooling medium distributing section |8| and the temperature of the contents of the cans is thereby lowered toany desired degree. The completely treated products are discharged from the machine as hereinbefore referred t0.

As previously mentioned, the drive sprockets 48 may be replaced with larger orsmaller sprockets to thereby vary the speed of rotation of the rolls and the amount of agitation of the canned goods while the same pass the treating compartment l. The speed ofadvancement of the cans through the machine may be varied by means of the speed reduction mechanism 82 previously referred to.

Referring now more specifically to the feed mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention, it will be noted that the same comprises the feed elevator 4 and transverse conveyor 5 previously mentioned. The conveyor 5 extends transversely ofthe charge end of the machine parallel to the first roll thereof. This conveyor comprises side walls |88 and |8| supported by brackets |82. The side wall adjacent the first transverse roll 33 is formed into a charge chute |83, as will be best seen from Fig. 1. These side walls |80 and |8| form in conJunction with end walls |84 and |85 a conveyor compartment generally designated |88.

- Mounted intermediate the side walls |88 and |8| are conveyor belt pulleys |81 and |88 around which a conveyor belt |88 is trained. The upper run of the conveyor belt is positioned slightly below the charge chute portion |83 of the side wall |88. so that cans supported thereby will be held in proper position within the conveyor compartment |85.

The conveyor belt pulley |88 is an idler pulley rotatably supported by means of a shaft 288 mounted within the side walls 88 and l8| near the front side of the machine as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The conveyor belt pulley |81, mounted between the side walls |88 and |8| of the conveyor compartment |88 at the rear side of the machine, is fixed upon a shaft 20| provided with a bevel gear 202 which is in operative engagement with bevel gear 203 keyed t0 the shaft 204 supported within a frame structure 205 mounted upon one ofthe brackets |82 previously referred to.

Keyed to the shaft 284 is a sprocket gear 288 and trained around the same and another sprocket gear 281 mounted on a drive shaft 2|0 of the feed elevator 4 is an endless sprocket chain 2| I. The shaft 58 previously referred to is provided with a sprocket gear 2|2 which is keyed thereto. A sprocket chain 2|3 is trained around this sprocket gear 2|2, and a sprocket gear 2|4 is adapted to operate the conveyor drive treating compartment is effected no cans are .shaft 2||l and the shaft 2M of the transverse y conveyor upon operation of themotor 62.

The feed elevator 4, a detail View of which is shown in Fig. 9, comprises a housing structure 2|5 secured to the side wall |90 of the transverse conveyor by means of a flange 2|5. The elevator housing 2|5 is provided with a discharge opening 2|1 above the transverse conveyor 5 for discharging the cans from the elevator upon the upper run of the conveyor belt |99 previously described.

The drive shaft 2| 0 of the conveyor 5 carries sprockets 2I8 rotatably mounted within bearing portions of the housing 2|5, and positioned within the lower end of the conveyor housing 2|5 is a shaft 2|9 provided with idler sprockets 220.

Trained around the drive sprockets 2I8 and idler sprockets 220 are conveyor chains 22| and '222 which are interconnected with respect to each other by means of transverse bars 221. These bars are spaced in such a manner with respect to eachother that cans delivered to the elevator 4 by means of a can assembly chute 228 are permitted to enter one atia time between the transverse bars 221 and upon rotation of the sprockets 2|8 and 220 in the direction as indicated by arrows in Fig. 9 the cans I8! supplied to the elevator 4 are' moved in an upward direction andy ride along the elevator table v229, as shown in Fig. 9. In this way the cans supplied by the chute 228 are elevated and discharged through the discharge opening 2|1 into the transverse conveyor compartment |96 and are placed upon the upper run of the conveyor belt |99, which advances the cans with their longitudinal axes parallel to the rolls transversely of the machine. 'I'he first can so delivered to the transverse conveyor will travel in a transverse direction until it abuts against the end wall |95, which will hold this can in a position adjacent said end wall.

vAdditional cans supplied to the conveyor 5 will likewise travel in a transverse direction of the machine and abut against the preceding can, so that a row of cans extending transversely of the machine at the charge end thereof may be assembled adjacent the treating -bed of the machine.

The transverse width of the apparatus of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 9. is such that a row of ten cans may be assembled within the transverse conveyor 5 adjacent the charge end of the machine before the can advancing mechanism, which extends over theconveyor compartment |96, is operated to effect the shifting of the assembled cans into the treating compartment for advancing the same therethrough in a manner as already specifically referred to hereinbefore.

After a predetermined number of cans have been placed into the transverse conveyor by means of the feed elevator 4, no further supply of cans into the transverse conveyor is desired until the cans have been discharged from the same. For this reason, the cross bars 221 of the elevator chains 22| and 222 are positioned in such a manner as to provide ten successive receiving pockets between the chains while the remaining spaces between the chain bars 221 are blocked out by additional transversebars230.

In this way, only a predetermined number of cans may be successively elevated and discharged into the transverse conveyor compartment |96,

.while during the time the advancement ofthe cans from the conveyor'compartment into the delivered to the transverse conveyor 5. After completion of the advancement of the assembled cans from the conveyor 5 to the treating compartment I, another set of cans will be `delivered to the transverse conveyor by the feed elevator in a manner as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

From' the above description of the construction and operation of the apparatus of the present invention it will therefore be seen that the cans delivered to the feed elevator 4 by means of the can assembly chute 228 are elevated and discharged into the transverse conveyor 5, the conveyor belt of which functions to assemble the cans in af row adjacent the rcharge end of the machine. Thereupon, the operation of the can advancing mechanism effects the travel of the cans from the conveyor compartment |96 into the treating compartment and upon the treating bed formed by the transverse rolls 33 therein. 'I'he cans so delivered to the treating compartment are rst placed within the valley formed between the first pair of transverse rolls and are thereafter shifted over the treating bedy of the machine, always advancing two valleys at a time.

During the return stroke of the advancing mechanism the cans remain at rest within a valley between the rolls for a predetermined period and are rotated by the can agitating mechanism previously referred to.

During their advancement through the treating compartment the cans are always under control oi' the pusher bars |20, which effect their forward shifting over the rolls and control their gradual admission into the valleys between the rolls, so that the transmission of shocks which would damage the contents of the cans is avoided. The machine of the present inventionmay be adapted for handling cans of smaller sizeA than those illustrated in the accompanying drawings by providing additional pusher bars |20 not shown herein. For this purpose, the longitudinal supporting members |2| and |22 may be provided with slots for removably receiving such additional pusher bars, so as to render the ma chine of the present invention adaptable for vari-f ous sizes of cans, and in such case the additional pusher bars may be replaced or removed in accordance with the requirements of practice. If the additional pusher bars are employed and the cans are to be advanced only one valley at a time, the stroke of the actuatingl mechanism must be reduced. This isaccomplished by connecting the actuating rod |55 at |56a to the actuating arm |51.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction described herein, as the same may be changed in accordance with the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, vwhat I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A can handling apparatus comprising a bed of parallel rolls forming a can path over which cans may pass in step-by-step movement from valley to valley transversely across the rolls, a cross conveyor extending across the feed end of said can path, a feed conveyor transverse to said cross conveyor for feeding cans to the latter in end-to-end relation, said feed conveyor having a predetermined number of openand closed pockets whereby a predetermined number oi! cans will be fed to said cross conveyor. and means cooperating with said bed of rolls and cross cona veyor for transferring the cans sidewise from the .cross conveyor upon said bed of rolls and for advancing the cans transversely over the same.

2. Apparatus for handling canned goods comprising closely spaced parallel can supporting rolls oi' a diameter substantially one half ofthe diameter of the cans supported thereby in the valleys formed therebetween, can shifting means above said rolls including rigid bars parallel to said rolls and closely embracing the cans, means.

for operating said can shifting means to intermittently shift the cans sidewise transversely across two rolls at each cycle of said can shifting means, the bars of said can shifting means being so spaced and positioned relative to the cross conveyor extending across the feed end ofv saidcan path, a feed conveyor for feeding cans to the latter in end to end relation, said feed conveyor having a predetermined number of open v and closed pockets whereby a predetermined number of cans will be fed to said cross conveyor,

vand means cooperating with said bed of rolls and cross conveyor for transferring the cans sidewise from the cross conveyor upon said bed of rolls and for advancing the cans transversely over the same.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

